To Voyage Without Fear
The most famous site in Athens - if not Greece, if not the world - is of course the Parthenon on the Acropolis. It’s what you do when you go to Greece. But perhaps it is telling that the first post I write on Greece does not focus on the Acropolis, nor does it delve... Continue Reading →
The easiest way for me to reach Greece was through Istanbul, that famed city in Türkiye, bursting with color, sights, and history. I had a choice between a three-hour layover or almost a full day. Rather than the short, comfortable stopover, I opted for the longer one to take advantage of Turkish Airlines’ TourIstanbul program,... Continue Reading →
Before this housesit, the only time I had been to Portugal was during a whirlwind layover at Lisbon airport. It was such a tease. The tourism industry knew exactly what they were doing by flooding the airport with gift shops full of Portuguese luxuries: shelves filled with port wine, fresh bottles of olive oil, and... Continue Reading →
It’s difficult to think of Italy without thinking of Italian cuisine. In fact, it’s the highlight of most trips to the peninsula, and for good reason. That being said, the more time I spend in Italy, the more I realize that there really isn’t “Italian” cuisine. Instead, there is the cuisine of Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Sicily, Naples…and the fresh flavors of Liguria.
Salviac is a small town in the Lot department in southwestern France. It is located near the more famous towns of Rocamadour and Cahors, and lesser-known but striking gems such as La Roque-Gajeac, the gardens of Marqueyssac, and Château de Castelnaud.
After so much time in France, it was about time that I explored some surrounding countries. Last year I ventured out to Switzerland and Spain, and this year it will be Germany and Italy (so far!). I had secured a lovely housesit in the suburbs of Heidelberg.
Aveyron has the rugged and raw landscape of France, as well as some rugged and raw traditions and people. As I get deeper and deeper into France, I am continuously delighted with the wildly unique regions presenting me with diverse history, culture, tradition, and last but never least, “gastronomie”.
There is something about the Aude region in western Occitanie of France that I can’t help but love. It seems every week I am seeing more of France and its wildly different regions, but I will return to the Cathar Country whenever the opportunity even vaguely presents itself.
The Opal Coast is a stunning region, with verdant, soft hills similar to the English countryside, yet the eccentricities that make the French countryside so special. It’s the center-stage of a clash between two age-old cultures, and has more history around every corner. It’s certainly worth a visit for a chilly walk along the rocky coast, followed up with a warm welsh rarebit, tasty beer, and the generous nature of your French neighbors.
The Land of the Cathars, or as it is more modernly known, Southwest France, is a breathtaking corner of France even in the depths of winter. History comes alive, the wine flows like water, and the people are friendlier than I could ever imagine...
Sans Peur 